UPDATE

Two men are homeless after their house northeast of Boyd burned early Sunday morning. Residents Ricky King and Jesse Roberts were able to escape the blaze with their dogs, Buddy, Conan and Bear, but their belongings were lost.

Boyd, Rhome, Decatur and Paradise fire departments fought the fire on County Road 4358, but the home could not be saved. Boyd firefighter Jonas McEntire said the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Gail King, who lives across the street, owns the home, but her son, Ricky, and his friend, Jesse, live there.

“It’s just amazing how quickly something can happen that changes your life,” she said.

Between 3 and 3:30 Saturday morning, Jesse went into one of the home’s two bathrooms, and he saw a hole in the ceiling. He could see flames, and yelled, ‘Fire!’, according to Gail. Ricky was sleeping but was awakened by the commotion, and about the time he got to the restroom to see what was going on, the bathroom ceiling fell in.

Gail has owned the home since 2006, and her son has lived there three or four years, she said. The American Red Cross was called to the scene to assist the two men.